In his Friday morning interview with Hungary's public radio (MR1), Prime Minister Viktor Orban spoke about the latest government measures, former PM Gyurcsany's infamous "speech of lies" and Pope Francis's visit to Budapest.

The Oszod ‘speech of lies’ [delivered by then premier Ferenc Gyurcsany in 2006] was a „petrifying moment” in Hungarian politics, but it is just as frightening that the person who perpetrated the situation, who deceived voters and remained in power on lies, and then stripped the populace of their money and led the country into bankruptcy, that this person „continues to be at the helm of the left [in Hungary],” PM Orban told Hungary’s public radio Friday morning. The Hungarian premier reflected on the brutality with which police responded to demonstrations that erupted after the speech was leaked, as well as the grave consequences in economic policy that ensued.

The Gyurcsany government at the time, held on to power, setting aside the country’s interests, he added.

Regarding Ferenc Gyurcsany, he explained that it is not the past that he is referring to, but „the past operating here in the present, persistently wanting to return”.

During the interview, PM Orban touched on the epidemic situation, pointing out that people’s lives will not return to the pre-pandemic ways of living, and that difficult decades lie ahead, with the approach of an era of migrations and pandemics. „This why we must discuss things like the need for [our own] vaccine manufacturing plant, for example,” he added.

Those who do not get vaccinated are in danger, he stressed.

According to Mr Orban, the EU recovery funds are loans, „but Brussels is withholding them from us because we are taking point with certain LGBTQ issues”. He added that the emergency legal authority in place because of the epidemic situation will remain in effect until the end of the year. He stressed that the sole solution to the crisis lies in vaccination, not in quarantines or masking. „All epidemiological experts agree that vaccination works, and if vaccination works, Hungary works. I encourage the elderly and the chronically ill to vaccinate themselves,” the prime minister emphasized.

With reference to Pope Francis’s visit to Budapest, he noted that the Pope “came to Hungary because he wanted to visit us.” Regarding his 40-minute conversation with the head of the Catholic Church, he said it confirmed his belief – and the Holy Father also clearly stated – that “what we are doing to protect families is important” and that Hungary’s fight in defence of families is vital for the future of Europe.

The Pope also maintains that the family is comprised of “a mother, a father and children – period,” he stated, citing Pope Francis, who said this is not a point worth arguing about and encouraged the Hungarian government to continue to stand up for families.